Press Releases
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Press Trump Administration on Weaponizing Immigration Hearings to Trap, Arrest, Deport Immigrants
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both D-Ore., said today they have joined a group of 21 Senate Democrats in pressing the Trump administration on its recent initiatives to weaponize immigration court hearings by terminating those cases and deporting people without due process. In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons, the senators … Continue Reading
July 15, 2025
Dexter, Wyden, Merkley Secure Emergency Court Order to Halt Deportation of Portland Family, Grant Access to Legal Counsel
PORTLAND, OR —Today, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03), along with U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, announced that a federal judge granted an emergency temporary restraining order preventing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from removing the Merlos family from the court’s jurisdiction. Dexter, Wyden, and Merkley released the following joint statement: “Our constituents, including four U.S. citizen children, were detained without due process by their own government. … Continue Reading
July 15, 2025
Wyden, Warren Press Social Security Commissioner on Broken Staffing Promises
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., today demanded the Social Security Administration answer reports that the agency is reassigning thousands of field office employees to staff a “pilot” phone program aimed at reducing hours-long phone wait times. Wyden and Warren wrote Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano that after gutting the agency’s workforce, these latest moves will further drain field offices, creating even longer wait times for … Continue Reading
July 14, 2025
Wyden Presses Trump Administration Over Misleading Statements on Wildland Firefighting Preparedness and Capability
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today demanded answers from the Trump administration following multiple misleading statements at a recent Senate committee hearing from U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz about how the Trump administration’s staffing and spending cuts are weakening wildland firefighting preparedness and resources this fire season. “Unfortunately, the Trump administration has apparently not only failed to increase the overall resources available, it has … Continue Reading
July 14, 2025
As School Year Nears, Merkley, Wyden, & Colleagues Demand Trump Admin End Blockade on Funding for Afterschool Programs, K-12 Schools Across America
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced they joined 30 colleagues in demanding President Trump’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought and U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon immediately release nearly $7 billion in funding for K-12 schools and adult literacy programs across America that the Trump Administration abruptly let states and school districts know it would indefinitely block. Oregon faces the potential loss of … Continue Reading
July 14, 2025
Wyden Introduces Legislation to Require ICE Officers to Display Clear Identification
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today he has introduced new legislation prohibiting immigration enforcement officers from concealing their identity during enforcement actions in public. Under the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda, Department of Homeland Security officers have engaged in public enforcement operations while concealing their identities with unmarked tactical gear and face coverings. Without visible badges, names, or insignia, the public … Continue Reading
July 14, 2025
Wyden, Merkley, Hoyle, Salinas, Dexter Announce $5.15 Million for Airports Across Oregon
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle, Andrea Salinas and Maxine Dexter today announced $5.15 million combined in federal infrastructure investments at airports in Aurora, Portland, Newport, Salem, John Day and Brookings. “Airports big and small are critical to keeping communities across the state connected and prepared to respond to natural disasters that include wildfires, winter weather and more,” Wyden said. “These federal … Continue Reading
July 11, 2025
Wyden, Colleagues Lead Amicus Brief Challenging Trump Administration Abuse of Emergency Powers to Impose Tariffs
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today he is leading Senate and House colleagues in filing an amicus brief in a key case, Oregon, et al., v. Trump, et al., challenging the Trump Administration’s abuse of emergency powers to impose tariffs. The brief opposes the Administration’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to levy sweeping tariffs as IEEPA is not a tariff statute. In June, Wyden and Senators Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Chuck Schumer, … Continue Reading
July 11, 2025
Wyden Announces Five Town Halls in Eastern Oregon
Portland - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will hold open-to-all town halls in Sherman, Wheeler, Gilliam, Morrow and Wallowa counties. Heading into these five Eastern Oregon town halls from July 25-27, Wyden has held 1,124 open-to-all town halls in keeping his promise to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon’s 36 counties. “Our state’s location thousands of miles away from Washington, DC makes it a must that elected officials hold open-to-all town halls in … Continue Reading
July 10, 2025
Wyden Blasts Trump Administration Over Budget Cuts Kneecapping Wildfire Preparedness in Oregon
Video can be found here Washington, D.C. - Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today demanded answers from the Trump Administration about how its proposed U.S. Forest Service budget cuts, funding and hiring freezes and recent reorganization of federal wildland firefighting will undermine Oregon’s preparedness for this fire season. “Instead of moving quickly, you all have trotted out another new and described ‘improved’ reorganization in the middle of a very dangerous fire season,” Wyden said to U.S. … Continue Reading
July 10, 2025
Wyden Invites Trump “Border Czar” to Participate in Multnomah County Town Hall
Washington, D.C. - Amid reports that Trump-designated “border czar” Tom Homan wants to visit Portland, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today invited the administration official to participate in the senator’s open-to-all Multnomah County town hall next month if he truly cares about local feedback on immigration policy featuring masked and unidentified agents snatching people off the streets. “I would certainly welcome your participation at my next Multnomah County town hall, which I am working to … Continue Reading
July 09, 2025
Merkley, Wyden, Hoyle: EPA Prioritizing J.H. Baxter Superfund Site Cleanup for Eugene Community
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, alongside U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04), welcomed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) addition of the former J.H. Baxter site in Eugene to its Superfund National Priorities List (NPL)—an essential action, as sites included on the list are eligible to receive federal funding for long-term, permanent cleanup efforts. This announcement comes after Merkley led the Oregon lawmakers in pressing EPA … Continue Reading
July 01, 2025
Merkley, Salinas, Oregon Delegation Secure Over $2.2 Million Manufacturing Boost for OMEP
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) announced today, alongside the Oregon delegation—Senator Ron Wyden and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05)—that $2,217,708 is heading to the Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership (OMEP), which ensures the program can continue to support local manufacturers across the state. The federal funding comes from the … Continue Reading
June 30, 2025
Wyden, Colleagues Demand Explanation from Big Oil Corporations Lobbying for Tax Breaks at the Expense of American Families
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today he is demanding an explanation from Big Oil companies on their efforts to win a $1.1 billion tax loophole in the Republican budget reconciliation bill that would leave middle-class families in Oregon and nationwide with higher energy costs. Senate Republicans are paying for this handout by cutting clean energy tax credits and vital energy programs. The reconciliation bill would add a loophole to the corporate alternative minimum … Continue Reading
June 30, 2025
Wyden, Merkley Reintroduce Legislation to Protect LGBTQI+ Communities from Global Violence
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have introduced a bill to impose sanctions on foreign actors responsible for human rights violations against LGBTQI+ communities abroad. “For far too long, the LGBTQI+ community has faced bigotry, hate, and violence all across the globe,” Wyden said. “We can’t let oppressive regimes get away with jailing or murdering individuals simply because of who they love and how they identify. This bill sends a clear message to … Continue Reading
June 30, 2025
Wyden, Merkley, Hoyle, Bynum Announce $9.7 Million for Rural Airports Across Oregon
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle and Janelle Bynum, today announced $9.7 million combined in federal grants for infrastructure improvements to taxiways, fencing, aircraft storage and more at airports throughout Oregon. “Rural airports are a vital lifeline to communities that depend on them for economic growth and emergency services,” Wyden said. “I applaud these federal investments that will help strengthen infrastructure in … Continue Reading
June 29, 2025
Wyden, Markey, Leader Schumer Call on Republicans to Stop Solar Cuts That Threaten Funding for K-12 Schools
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today that he and two Democratic colleagues have written to Donald Trump and Republican congressional leaders about the risks to K-12 funding posed by the Republican budget reconciliation proposal. Projects supported by tax credits, which Republicans want to eliminate, have saved communities tens of thousands of dollars annually. Any cuts could delay or disrupt important, ongoing solar projects, prevent schools and school districts from … Continue Reading
June 27, 2025
Wyden Votes For Iran War Powers Resolution to Prevent War Without Congressional Approval
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement today on his vote for the Iran War Powers Resolution, which reaffirms Congress’s constitutional power over the power to declare war or end hostilities: “I voted for this resolution to give voice to Oregonians across the state who made clear they don’t support sending American troops to fight and die in another endless war in the Middle East,” said Wyden, who voted against the Iraq War in 2002. “I supported … Continue Reading
June 27, 2025
Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici, Hoyle Announce $1 Million for Airports on Oregon Coast & Willamette Valley
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici and Val Hoyle, today announced $1.08 million combined in federal infrastructure investments at airports in Tillamook, Astoria, Brookings and Aurora. “Federal investments in smaller airports throughout Oregon are a must to enhance quality of life in rural communities, Wyden said. “I’m gratified these federal resources are heading to our state, and I’ll keep battling for similar … Continue Reading
June 27, 2025
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $31 Million in PILT Payments to Support Vital Services in Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced counties throughout Oregon will receive a combined total of $31,027,890 in Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding for 2025. Because local governments cannot tax federal lands, annual PILT funding helps to defray the costs associated with maintaining important community services in counties with federal lands. “Rural communities shouldn’t have to wonder if they will have the resources they need to pay for … Continue Reading
